stuart



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. H. STUART.

I I 1 I WWI-T125555 Fl '2 IPIJZflTEIK (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' A. H. STUART.

I PIANO ACTION. No. 451,662. Patented May 5,1891.

WITIJESEE5 p jywaz/zw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT II. STUART, OF BOSTON, MASSIXOIIUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOC. O. BRIGGS & 00., OF SAME PLACE.

Pl'ANO-ACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,662, dated May 5,1891.

Application filed October 25, 1890. Serial No. 369,317. (No modeLl Toall whom it may concern: H, the hammer-butts; I, the hammer-stems,

Be it known that I, ALBERT II. STUART, of and K the hammer-heads.

Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of L is the soft action orpedal rod.

llrlassachusettshave invented certain new and M is the hammer-rail, andN is the bell- 5 useful Improvements in Piano-Actions; and crank lever,the upper arm of which is at- I do hereby declare that the following isa tached to the hammer-rail M and the lower full, clear, and exactdescription of the invenarm resting on the top of the rod L.

tion, which will enable others skilled in the All of the above-namedparts are old and art to which it appertains to make and use wellknown,and consequently need nofurther IO the same, reference being hadto the accomdescription.

. panyin g drawings, and to letters of reference Vhen the differentparts are intheir normal marked thereon, which form a part of thispositions, as shown in Fig. 1, the hammers specification. rest withtheir butts II upon the tops of the In the present construction ofupright pijacks F, as shown in dotted lines, and conse- I 5 anos theoperation of bringing into play the quently the rear portion of eachkey-lever soft pedal raises the lower arms of the hamwill sustain thecombined weight of its rocker mer-levers or the hammer-butts andreleases O, connecting-rod D, j ack-bed F, jack E, and the back portionsof the key-levers from the hammer II I K. The mechanism is so conweightthat they normally sustain. The constructed that said combined weight isabout struction of the piano-action is such that said what is requisiteto give the key-lever the necweight is necessary when the differentparts essary resistance and elasticity whenthekey of the action are intheir normal positions to is struck. hen, however, the soft action orgive the requisite resistance and elasticity pedal is applied the rod Lwill raise the lower when the keys are struck. arm of the bell-cranklever N and force the 25 It is the object of my invention to provideupper arm of said lever and the hammer-rail means whereby there willalways be the req- M forward, and consequently the ham meruisite amountof resistance and elasticity to stems I, which rest against said rail,will be the key-levers. To accomplish this object forced forward and thehammer-butts II will myinvention consists of ahinged leaf extendberaised above the jacks F, (see Fig. 3,) thus o ing over the rearportions of the key-levers, releasing said jacks as well as thekey-levers and also of means for keeping said leaf out. B from theentire weight of the hammer. of contact with the key-levers when theparts This loss of weight on the key-levers renders of the action are intheir normal positions the resistance too slight to the action on theand condition, but which will release orlower keys when they are struck,and renders such 8 5 35 said leaf upon the key-levers when the softaction what is termed slushy. To remedy action or pedal is applied. thisdifliculty I adopt the following mech- In the accompanying drawings,Figure 111-, anism: lustratesasideelevationofapiano-action,part- For thepurpose of my invention I have tly broken away, and wit-h one form of myinillustrated my improvements as applied to 4 Vention applied theretoandthe differentparts only two key-levers of a piano, as the appliin theirnormal positions. Fig. 2 is a partial cation to all the key-levers wouldbe the same plan of the same. Fig. is a similar view to as that to thetwo shown. Fig. 1, but showing the positions of the parts A is a stripor slat supported in a horizonwith the soft action applied. Fig. l is apartal position above and transversely across the 5 45 tial plan'of apiano-action with aslightly difkey-levers B back of the keys A and inthe ferent form of my invention applied thereto. piano-case. The stripA" is removably se- Similar letters representlike parts in all cured inits position on uprights B, (only the figures. one being shown at oneend of the key-hearth) A represents the keys; B, the key-levers; andheld firmly on said uprights either by the too 5 C, the rockers; D, theconnecting-rod; E, the upper end of the same being screw:threaded,jack-beds; F, the jacks; G, the back-checks; passing through holes inthe strip A and held therein by nuts 13 or by screws passing throughsaid holes in the strip A and into the uprights B. C is another strip orslat, which is hinged to the strip A back of the same, and D is aweighted leaf or flap, the weights being shown sunk into the leaf at (Za, and said leaf being hinged to the strip 0 and back of the same. Therear portion of the leaf D extends back of the fulcra Z) of thekey-levers B and over the raised portion of said levers, to which therockers C are socured. Extendingback from one end of the strip A is atongue 0, for a purpose hereinafter to be explained.

E is a rocking lever fulcrumcd ashort distance back of the tongue 0, andwith the end of the shorter or front arm of said lever extending undersaid tongue. The longer or back arm of the lever E is provided with ayoke (Z, extending outward from its end, and this yoke spans the rod L.The lever E is fulerurned in a similar manner to the keylevers by meansof a pin 6, extending upward through a V-shaped opening 6 in said lever.The rod L is provided with an annular flange or collar f, surroundingsaid rod above the yoke (Z. The collar f is made adjustable upon the rodL by means of a screw 9 passing through the collar and adapted toimpinge upon the rod L. The collar)" should be so adjusted upon the rodL that when said rod is in its normal position and before it is raisedsaid collar should be bearing down somewhat the yoke (Z and the long armof the lever E, and thus raise the shorter or front arm of said lever,the tongue (2 overlapping said arm, the strip 0, to which said tongue issecured, and the weighted leaf D, which is hinged on its upper surfaceto the strip 0, said leaf being lifted from the rear portion of thekeylevers. (See Fig. 1.) When, however, the soft action is applied byraising the rod L, the yoke (Z of the lever E is relieved of thepressure of the collar f, and the weighted leaf D will fall upon therear portion of the keylevers, adding the weight of said leaf to thesame, and by means of the tongue cthe short arm of the lever E isdepressed, and the longer arm and yoke (Z will be raised (see Fig. 2) tobring said yoke and arm into position to be depressed by the falling ofthe rod L and its collar f.

The weighted leaf D may extend entirely across all of the key-levers, orit may be divided up into separate sections, as desired. If it be madeinto separate sections, (only one section being shown in the figures,)tensionsprings h h, secured to the strip 0 and bearing down upon theleaf D, assist the weights of said leaf, which otherwise might not besufflcient,in giving the requisite pressure upon the key-lever.

If the leaf D be made all in one piece and extend over all of thekey-levers, the depression of one key will cause its lever to meet withthe resistance of said entire leaf, which resistance may be too much. Ifthe leaf be divided into sections, however, the depression of one keywill have the resistance of only ne sectionthe one over its l6YGl-1Oovercome and raise. Hence, ifa long leaf or strip extending over all thekey-levers be used, the weight of the leaf alone, without any additionalweight, will be necessary and give the desired resistance, while if theleaf or strip D be divided into sections each section will not be heavyenough in itself and the additional weights willbeuecessary. If,however, it be desired to have the resistance to each key moreindependent of that on the other keys, the strip 0 is dispensed with,and the weighted leaf or strip F is hinged directly to the fixed stripA, as in Fig. t, and instead of said leaf or strip F being adapted tofall and rest directly upon the key-levers, said leaf is provided withtension-springs i Z, one for each key-lever, extending outward from theleaf F and over the rockers C, one spring extending over and adapted tobear down upon each rocker and its key. The tongue 0 extends back from alateral projection of the leaf F and is acted upon by the lever E, asabove described. The normal positions of the parts before the rod L hasbeen raised will be as hereinbefore stated, and the springs Z Z will ofcourse be raised when the leaf F is raised. \Vhen, however, the rod Lisraised the leaf F will drop, and each spring 71, with the added weightof the strip F, will bear down upon its own particular lever-rocker Cand thus give an independent resistance to each key-lever as the key isstruck. V

The strip C and theleaf or flap 1) of Figs. 1, 2, and 3 virtuallyconstitute, together, a single weighted flap, as when the strip 0 israised the leaf D will also be raised, and when the strip C is loweredthe leaf D will fall.

In the above construction, the strip 0', extending the entire lengthacross the key-levers is heavy enough to rest upon said levers unlessraised by the tongue 0; but the flaps D are allowed to be liftedindependently by the key-levers. In the construction shown in Fig. 4,the leaf or iiap F is of a sufficient weight to bear upon the key-leversindirectly through the springs Z, unless raised up by the tongue 0, andthe springs Z are raised independently of said leaf by the key-levers.In both constructions, however, the springs 7L or z'assist theresistance or weight of the flap upon the key-levers.

My improved mechanism for raising the soft-action rod L, andconsequently for operating the connecting parts, is the following: Therod L is provided with a flange or collar is near the bottom of thepiano-case X.

G is a lever having its free end or a tongue extending outward from thesame extending under the flange 7);, and having its other end fulcrumednear the front portion of the case at 7;.

H is a lever pivoted transversely to the side of the lever between itstwo ends, with the longer arm of the lever H extending upward and theshorter arm extending downward and beveled, as at Z, from its rear toits front edge, (see Figs. 1 and 3,) and with said bevel and lower endof the lever adapted to ride over the upper surface of the bottom X ofthe casing.

I is a stop rod extending horizontally through the front board Y of thecasing and the rear end of said rod is connected with the upper arm ofthe lever II by a link m.

In the normal positions of the parts, and when the springs a are raisedabove the rockers O, the free end of the lever G will rest upon thebottom X of the piano-easing and the flange 75 will rest upon the freeend of said lever or upon the tongue extending outward from the same.The lever H will incline backward and the stop-rod I will be drawn intothe casing. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) To bring the soft action intooperation, the stoprod .1 is pulled out and by this action the upper end.of the lever H is drawn forward and the incline or bevel Z will ridebackward over the bottom of the casing, the fulcrum of said lever risingand causing the lever G to rise also and push up the rod L and by theintermediate mechanism before described bring the soft action into playand lower the leaf D or F to bring the pressure of said leaf D or theleaf F and its springs t 1 upon the key-levers.

Fig. 3 shows the positions of the parts when the above operation hasbeen performed, and when the lever 11 has been drawn to a verticalposition. Pins 02 n extending outward from the side of the lever G oneither side of the lever H serve to limit the play of the latter leverin either direction.

A coil-spring 0 (see Fig. 1) encircles the rod L and has its lower endsecured to said rod, and the upper end of said spring bears against theupper surface of the top guide K, through which the rod L passes, thisspringbeing for the purpose of bearing the rod L down, so as to keep theparts in their normal positions, the rising of the rod L to put intooperation the soft action being against the tension of the spring 0.

As is customary in piano-actions, the different bearing or strikingparts of the mechanism are furnished with pads to soften the contact ofthe same with each other.

The parts shown in the drawings which are not specified byreference-letters are common in piano-actions, and therefore need not bedescribed, the illustrations of the same being simply to show therelative operative positions of the other parts of the mechanism.

In place of the yoke d the back end of the lever E alone might extendunder the flange f, and the front end of said lever might extend underthe hinged lid itselfinstead of under the tongue projecting from saidleaf. The back end of the lever G may also extend under the lower end ofthe rod L, if said rod terminates at the bottom of the piano-casing,

instead of using the flange 7.: and having the lever G extend under thisflange.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

1. The combination, with the key-levers of a piano, of a leaf or flaphinged over said key levers and with its free portion extending back ofits hinges and back of the fulcra of the key-levers, and means forlifting said leaf or flap above its hinges and above the keylevers andfor lowering it directly upon the rear of the levers, all as set forth.

2. The combination, with the key-levers of a piano, of a spring leaf orflap hinged over said key-levers and with its free portion extendingback of its hinges and back of the fulcra of the key-levers, and meansfor lifting said leaf or flap above its hinges and above the key-leversand for lowering it directly upon the rear of the levers, all as setforth.

3. A new and useful means for giving the necessary resistance to thekey-levers of a piano when said levers have been deprived of theirnormal weight or resistance caused by bringing into operation the softaction of the piano,eonsisting of a strip or leaf hinged over thekey-levers and extending over and back of their fulcra points, and meansconnected with the soft action for automatically lowering said leaf uponthe back portions of the levers when said action is applied and forautomatically raising said leaf above the key-levers when said action isnot in use or is released, all as set forth.

at. The combination, with the key-levers, of a strip or leaf hinged oversaid levers and extending back of their fulcra points, the rod L, havingthe flange or collar f, a rocking lever, one arm of which extends undersaid flange, and the other arm of the lever extending under the hingedleaf or under a projection extending out from said leaf, all as and forthe purposes set forth.

5. In combination with the vertical softaction rod, the lever G,fulcrumed near its front end and its back end engaging with said rod,the lever H, having the incline Z for riding over the bottom of thecasing, the stoprod 1, and link on, all as and for the purposes setforth.

6. In combination with the vertical rod L, the lever G, fulcrumed nearits front end and its back end engaging with said rod, a lever fulcrumedtransversely upon the side of the lever G and having one of its armsextending below said lever G, and means connected with the upper arm ofsaid transverse lever for drawing it back and forth, all as and for thepurposes set forth.

7. In combination with the key-levers, a leaf or flap hinged to asupport over said levers and extending over the back arms of the same,and a tongue extending outward from said leaf to form means by which theleaf may be lifted, all as set forth.

8. In combination with the key-levers, a leaf or flap hinged to asupport over said levers and extending over the back arms of the same, atongue extending outward from said leaf to form means by which the leafmay be lifted, and tension-springs attached to said leaf for assistingthe latter in its resistance upon the key-levers, all as set forth.

9. In combination,the strip A, adapted to be secured transversely overthe key-levers, a Weighted leaf or strip hinged to the strip A andadapted to extend over the back arms of the key-levers, and the tongue0, extendin g backward from a lateral projection of said weighted leafto form means by which said leaf may be lifted, all as set forth.

10. The combination, with the key-levers, of a strip extendingtransversely over said levers back of the keys and adapted to be securedin such position, and a weighted leaf hinged to said strip and extendingback of the same and over the back arms of the key-levers and dividedtransversely into sections or a series of small leaves for operating onone key-lever or a set of key-levers, all as set forth.

11. The combination, with thekey-levers, of a strip or leaf hinged oversaid levers and extending back of their fulcra points, the rod L, havingthe flange or collar f, a rocking lcver, one arm of which extends undersaid flange and the other arm of the lever extending under the hingedleaf or under a projection extending out from the same, the lever G, thelever 11, and means for drawing back and forth the upper arm of saidlever, all as and for the purposes set forth.

Witnesses:

CHARLES C. Braces, J12, PENNINGTON ITALSTE Am.

